Page 66 of Johnathan

“That wasn’t even a long drive, baby. But I can help you wake them back up if you need me to.” John’s hand squeezed her thigh, his fingers digging into her muscle and making her laugh.

“To be honest, I’m surprised I’m still awake. Nighttime driving always makes me super sleepy.”

She’d hardly slept the night before, thinking about going away with John to his cabin for the weekend. They dropped Katy off with his mom and dad after school and left Bell Ridge. The sun had set within the first hour of them driving and the quiet hum of his truck’s engine with the gentle bumps of the highway, not to mention John’s warm and possessive touch, were lulling her to sleep.

“Good thing I drove then,” John said.

“Definitely. It’s been a long time since I was a passenger princess.”

“Baby, whenever I’m around, that’s all you’ll be. I’m sure this will sink in one day, but I’ll always drive us wherever we need to go, and I’ll always open your door. My mom would have my ass if I wasn’t a gentleman, even after we grow old and gray together.”

“We’re going to grow old and gray together?”

He shrugged. “I think that’s the goal, sweetheart.”

“I like the sound of that.” Abby stifled a yawn. “How much further?”

“Just a few minutes. We’re going to turn off the highway in ten miles and then it’s a short drive through a sleepy town and into the forest, and boom. We’ll be there.”

John didn’t lie. Twenty minutes later, with wide eyes and an excitement in her heart, she watched the trees fly by on a quiet country road.

“John, this place is adorable.” Abby felt like a kid at Christmas when he pulled into the driveway at his cabin.

“Adorable doesn’t make it feel like the man cave it really is, baby.”

“Sorry,” she laughed. “But it looks more like a romantic getaway than a rowdy hunting camp.”

“Eh, you might want to save that judgment for after you see inside. It’s pretty rustic.”

“As long as I don’t have to walk outside to use the bathroom, I’ll be perfectly fine.”

“Happy to report we have indoor plumbing. I put in an on demand hot water heater the first year I had the place and a big tub. Probably because I was so traumatized by how dirty a little baby can get.”

Abby laughed again. “It was a smart investment. Kids are pretty dirty creatures until they start thinking about dating.”

“Don’t even bring that up to me. Katy isn’t dating until she’s thirty.”

Abby pulled her hand from his and stopped walking.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“I’m not thirty yet.”

His head tipped to the side as his brows furrowed. “I know.”

“So is that how you see me? As someone’s baby who you shouldn’t be dating?”

“Abby, no. Not at all. It was just a stupid thing I said. In fact, if Katy found someone at your age who felt about her the way I feel about you, I’d be happy for her.”

“Smooth.”

A bright smile burst across his face, all traces of worry disappearing behind his boisterous laugh.

“So,” she said as she laced her fingers back through his. “How big is the tub?”

She wiggled her eyebrows at him and shook her hips as she walked past him to the porch.

“It’s big enough for the both of us.” His words came out as a low growl as he snaked his arm around her waist and backed her against the door.

---